Final Exam Guide

The Final Exam for Organizational Communication will consist of two parts:

1.  An open-book, open-notes, open-internet, written in-class examination based on a case provided in the form of a memorandum by Chet Amagan seeking advice on an organizational consulting problem he has before him.  For guidance in writing a response to Chet's request see "How to Analyze a Case."

2.  A take home short essay consisting of a reflection statement describing why your team's training program represents a good quality plan/demonstration for training on the topic your team selected (or, if needed, reflections on what could and should be improved.)  This essay should be prepared in advance of the final exam and turned in at the start of the exam period. 

• The reflection on your training program should be a maximum of one and a half pages, single-spaced, 10 or 12 point font.

• the reflection may focus on either the written plan or on the in-class demonstration of training your team did (not both).  Reflect on the quality of the PRODUCT not on your team or teamwork or the process of design.
   

  • This is essentially a persuasive essay that shows how your team's product for the training project  illustrates good, professional quality in training programs and, thus, your competency as potential organizational trainers.
     

  • A good reflection statement will make assertions (yes, the term you learned in ENGL 110) about good qualities that appear in your program. These assertions should use professional terms of the organizational communication discipline (as we have discussed in class).  Like your answers to the case Chet gives you, it would be most unfortunate if you write a
    reflection statement that contains few references to the concepts you have studied in this class about training programs. When I read your reflections, I will want to know, does the statement indicate that you understand what good work is. But you must do more than assert that your training is good; you must provide support your assertions by pointing to specifics in the program that prove what you are saying (often using language like, “for example, we included an evaluation at the end of each module so that..." will likely be essential if you want to do well).
     

  • Some things that do not help to have in a reflection statement are "assertions" such as, "This is a good program because I worked really hard on it." or "Everyone liked our demonstration of training." or "I really enjoyed doing this." You should describe the kinds of standards that COMM faculty members or other professionals in the field would use to evaluate a training program. Simply asserting that you have accomplished the objective is not enough.  You must give reasons (with support) of why and how the program illustrates good training, reasons that sound like the kinds of things professionals in communication would say.  Support should consis of specific examples of material found in your paper or that occured during the demonstration.

  If you are a COMM major, this reflection can be used in your COMM Electronic Portfolio.  so save it (along with a copy of my pdf evaluation forms and the program documents.

   

The final Exam occurs at 6pm, Tuesday, December 13.  You may use the COMM computer lab to write your exam or bring your laptop, as you did for the previous exams.